Occupational health is a major concern, both for the well-being of local public administration employees and the quality of public services provided to the community. This is why local public administration has preventive medicine services, whose specific missions and organization deserve to be highlighted for both the general public and professionals in the field.
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Civil servants and contractual employees of local government are monitored by preventive medicine services. State civil service relies on prevention medicine services, while the hospital public service depends on prevention and occupational health services with specific provisions. Finally, preventive medicine in the armed forces has a specific organization.
Missions and Organization: A Multidisciplinary Team Dedicated to Prevention
The missions of preventive medicine services are carried out by a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by an occupational physician. This team can be affiliated with various types of structures, including services created by the community, services shared among several public employers, or prevention and occupational health services with which agreements are established. The goal is to ensure appropriate medical surveillance for local public administration employees, including those in Parisian administrations.
Preventive medicine services have the facilities, equipment, and materials necessary to carry out their missions. In addition to occupational physicians, these services may include nursing staff and medical-social secretarial personnel. They can also welcome collaborating physicians and interns in occupational medicine.
To ensure the prevention of occupational risks and improvement of working conditions, preventive medicine services can call upon healthcare professionals or competent organizations in this field.
The use of telemedicine practices, through information and communication technologies, is also possible, subject to the written consent of the employee and adherence to confidentiality. The occupational physician is responsible for assessing the feasibility of teleconsultation based on the reason for the visit, available resources, and the employees’ work assignments.
Organization and Responsibility
Preventive medicine services are under the authority of the local administration and are led and coordinated by the occupational physician. The independence of individuals and organizations external to the administration is ensured through agreements that detail the actions entrusted to them and the terms of their exercise.
The occupational physician must dedicate a minimum amount of time to their missions, set at 1 hour per month for 20 employees, and 1 hour for 10 employees under special medical surveillance. They act independently and solely in the interest of employee health and safety, without being responsible for fitness examinations or medical monitoring, which fall under the purview of an accredited physician and a medical council.
Medical Surveillance and Workplace Actions
Medical surveillance of local public administration employees is a central concern of preventive medicine services. Each employee benefits from an information and prevention visit at least every 2 years. The purpose of this visit is to inquire about the employee’s health, provide information on the risks associated with their job, raise awareness about prevention, and identify whether referral to the occupational physician is necessary.
The occupational physician can also conduct additional examinations to determine the compatibility between the job and the employee’s health, detect potential occupational diseases, and monitor employees in special situations, such as pregnant women or people with disabilities.
In cases of disagreement between the local authority and the occupational physician regarding job accommodations, recourse is possible with the competent labor inspector.
Transparency and Follow-up
Preventive medicine services are required to promptly inform the local authority of every workplace accident and every occupational or work-related illness. They produce an annual activity report that is transmitted to the local authority and the local social committee.
A medical record for occupational health is established under the responsibility of the occupational physician, ensuring compliance with medical confidentiality. In the event of a change in the preventive medicine service, the medical record is transmitted, subject to the prior written consent of the employee.
In conclusion:
The preventive medicine services of local public administration play an essential role in preserving employee health and preventing occupational risks. They contribute to maintaining a healthy and safe work environment within local public administration.
